Madison revels in Young's success

Published 6:30 am, Friday, January 6, 2006

Bleary-eyed students re-enacted Vince Young's memorable Rose Bowl winning eight-yard touchdown run in the halls of James Madison High School between classes Thursday — paying homage to the performance of the University of Texas quarterback who attended their campus less than four years ago.

Inside, Young's days at Madison High are memorialized in a mural. His No. 10 high school jersey is retired. And school leaders said they'll plan a "Vincent Young Day" just as soon as their golden-child graduate has time to return to campus.

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Even though they were tired from staying up late to watch the game, students said Young's stellar Rose Bowl performance had everyone at Madison — and across the country — thrilled.

Vinson, like many Madison students, has been following Young's career since elementary school. They said they've taken to heart the positive example that Young has set for them, making his Rose Bowl victory even sweeter.

"It's been very emotional," said senior Chas Moore, 17, a defensive back for Madison High. "It's been a great day. Everybody just been jumping. It's been fast-paced."

Moore said he's never seen Madison students come together like they did to support Young.

"It's like we were all one," he said. "Everybody's on the same page."

Principal Gloria Legington, who remembers Young as a playful teenager, granted her students a little leeway — allowing them to wear Longhorn caps and to hold an impromptu celebration in the gymnasium. Students gave interviews to television stations and broke out in a chant of "Vince!"

"We're allowing them to display that excitement today. We can handle that today," said Legington, who stayed up late to watch the game.

Young, a 2002 Madison graduate, was voted "most popular," "most athletic" and "best all-around" senior, according to the school yearbook.

Pat Reinecke, who coaches Madison football's offensive line, said he never doubted that Young would pull out a victory to snag Texas' first national championship since 1970.

"He finds a way. When he was at Madison, UT, he just finds a way to win," said Reinecke, who remembers Young as a tall, skinny kid with an amazing gift.

Young always gives 100 percent and gets on the case of teammates who don't, Reinecke said. The quarterback periodically returns to Madison to talk to students, visit coaches and work out in the gym, he said.

It benefits younger students to see someone from their low-income neighborhood, south of downtown, succeed on a national stage, he said.

"I think their chests are out a little more. There's a sense of pride," he said. "Sometimes it's hard to kind of see the light of the future. It's easier when you see someone else make it from your area."